"Hurry!" Serra said.
Finkle leaped on Serra's back hoping to avoid the fast-rising waters.
"What the..."
"Forgive me, Serra. I need a ride. I'll drown in this water."
With an annoyed expression, she continued forward.
"There." Aimma pointed. "The light up ahead. We're almost to the exit."
The water rose to their waist before they climbed out of a vine-covered fountain. They waited for Corbin at the outside edge and prepared to attack any reapers.
"We have to go." Serra held her daggers tight.
"No, we wait," demanded Odder.
"He saved us," Aimma added.
"He sacrificed his life so you can live, Odder." Serra nudged him with her elbow. "Don't waste it, let's go."
Odder hit his sword on the earth several times. Serra was right, but his insides still knotted. He turned away from the fountain.
Finkle patted the back of Odder's leg. "The Celestines will give peace to the gentle creature."
A sudden rush of water shot out of the fountain. Everyone turned. Serra’s daggers illuminated. "Get behind me!"
A golden hand lifted from the water and gripped the side.
"Corbin." Aimma ran over and helped pull him out. Odder followed.
Corbin lifted himself over the edge and rolled onto the ground. His gears jerked and jolted as he coughed and whistled between fits.
"You're alive," Odder said with a joyful grin.
"Yes, alive," said Corbin, sitting up.
"Don't be too thrilled," said Serra, rubbing her daggers together - creating sparks. "The reapers will be next to come out of the hole."
CHAPTER 19
FORMETEU, FEAR
"The water protects us," said Corbin.
"Not for long. The reapers won't stop,” Serra said. “We can't stay here.”
"We should seal the fountain then," Aimma said.
"Great idea healer," said Serra. "I need a stone large enough to cover the surface."
The group looked around for stones scattered throughout the area.
"This soil's been turned," Finkle said, poking the ground with a piece of dead wood.
"It’s a boneyard?" questioned Aimma.
"I know this place." Serra steadied her hands and exhaled. "Those stones are gravestones. We’re in a Xenduri cemetery. The same one I buried my parents."
"I'm sorry Serra," Odder said. "Isn't this place far from your camp?"
"What do you know about my camp?"
"Karzan shared your background."
She grunted. "My life is none of your business."
"You're right, but I'm glad I know. We both grew up with tragedies," Odder said, attempting to mend the wound he opened.
Serra pinched the bridge of her nose. "Yes, sorry. I should be less reactive. Your lords were gracious enough to give us this burial site," she said, with sarcasm.
"This one's big enough," said Finkle, kicking a stone.
Serra lowered her head. "I found and quarried that headstone myself. It's large because both my parents are buried there."
Finkle blushed and slammed his foot to the ground.
"Then forget it," said Aimma. "We'll find another."
"No, my parents sacrificed their lives for freedom." Serra paused. "I think it would make them happy to know they helped one more time."
Corbin lifted the large stone and placed it on top of the fountain. Serra chanted a spell to seal the stone.
"Thank you, mother and father," Serra said, her voice meek and childlike.
After a moment of silence, Odder spoke, "We must go. Lead the way, Corbin."
The group trudged through the forest until twilight.
"I'm exhausted," said Finkle, falling to the ground.
"How much further?" Odder asked.
Corbin pointed to a cluster of dead trees, their roots overturned, and tangled in the air to form a path. "We are close."
"You can't be serious," said Finkle. "This eerie route will lead us to a horrific death."
"I have to agree with the gnome," Aimma said.
"Is this the only way?" asked Serra.
"Yes," answered Corbin.
"Then let's not waste time," said Odder. "The pitch will soon be upon us."
As Kellas’s light faded, Ophelia proclaimed her dominance in the heavens, known as the pitch, shining her light with intensity, and creating frightening blue shadows in her wake. Serra held up her daggers and used their magic to illuminate the way.
"Those daggers are magnificent," said Odder.
"Thank you. My grandfather was a magicsmith. It took him just over five hundred years to give the daggers their magic properties."
"Amazing,” Odder said. “I wonder who and how long it took to make the Maha'De?"
"The power to kill demons, ten thousand years I bet," Finkle said.
"And probably created by a Celestine," Aimma added.
Odder rolled his eyes. He thought it silly that Arcainans pray to creatures, existing outside our realm, in hopes for answered miracles.
"Come on, laddy." Finkle elbowed his leg. "Look at your gifts and not to mention your encounters with demons. Are you still doubting?"
"True, I confronted demons but where were the Celestines during all this? If they are the messengers of good, then why aren't they protecting us from the goblins, shadow reapers, or this scorpion Queen? Serra, you certainly don't believe in this myth."
"I believe there can't be one without the other. There can't be darkness without light, and there can't be evil without goodness."
Odder threw his hands in the air.
"Don’t let this idealistic belief distract you now, Odder," said Aimma. "We have bigger battles."
"Shh," said Serra. She crouched low to the ground and waved the others to do the same.
Bushes just north of their trail shifted.
"Somethings hiding in the shadows," Serra whispered.
Corbin held his hand up and created a bright light. Spider-like creatures scattered back into the shadows.
Long hairy legs protruding from their hiding spots. "Tell me those aren't spiders."
"Indeed, laddy." Finkle grinned. "Your favorite."
"Stay close," Serra whispered. "There are vile beasts that only hunt during the light of Ophelia."
They traveled further ahead, passing strange creatures lurking out of site.
"Odder," called a faint voice, like a gust blowing through the trees.
"Did you hear that?" asked Odder.
"Hear what?" questioned Aimma.
"Odder."
"Odder."
"Odderhh."
"Three of them." Odder pulled at Serra's cloak.
She held out her daggers. "I don't hear anything."
"The lack of sleep must be getting to you," said Finkle.
"No, I heard it."
Corbin circled his light around which reflected off three chilling figures.
"There, you see them now," said Odder.
Three females dressed in scanty clothing, wearing the skulls of horned beast on their head, revealed themselves. They stayed on the other side of the trail just out of reach from the rooted path.
"What are they, goblins, elves?" asked Aimma.
"Neither," replied Serra. "They are Salvat's witches. They'll leave us alone as long as we stay off their land."
"Sounds good to me," said Finkle.
"We are close," said Corbin, pointing toward a tarnished metal gate covered in vines and thorns.
The witches, among other creatures, followed alongside as the group walked ahead.
Odder kept a close eye on them. They called his name, but no one else heard. They must be mind whispering to me. How do they know who I am?
Corbin cleared the ground just north of the gate. "We wait here."
Finkle conjured a protection spell to keep the beasts away, then gathered some nearby wood. "I'll start a fire."
"How long do we wait?" asked Aimma.
/> "Until Karzan arrives," Serra responded.
Finkle ignited the small campfire. "And what if he - "
"He will," Serra said, her words weighty yet sharp like a swinging ax. "Let's get some rest before sunrise. I'll take the first shift with Corbin."
As Odder cleared an area to lay, Aimma sat next to him. "It's time I examine your markings."
"I think it’s better."
"I see some improvement." She pressed her finger on the last demon marking. "My healing spell helped, maybe we can try some conjuring tomorrow."
The healing revitalized Odder, but he frowned. "With the looking glass destroyed, will there be another way for me to defeat the final demon?"
Aimma shrugged.
"Keep it down you two," Finkle said. "Get some sleep."
***
"Odder, wake up."
"Wha..." Odder sat up, rubbing his eyes.
Serra nudged him. "Karzan’s here."
Odder sprung to his feet.
"Hi lad," said Karzan.
"You made it." Odder grabbed his hand and gave it a robust shaking.
"Glad to see you too."
"Did Martha..."
"She's safe. Back home cleaning the mess."
"How did you get away from the shadow reapers?" asked Serra.
Finkle and Aimma woke and sat up.
"Once Odder left, they lost interest in us and pursued him." Karzan looked at Finkle and Aimma. "Good morning you two."
Finkle stretched his arm out wide and gave a big yawn.
"It's good to see you," Aimma said, with a broad smile.
Karzan nodded. "Serra, I believe this is yours." He handed her a brown satchel."
"Yes!" Serra gripped her satchel tight and hugged it against her face.
"How about food?" Finkle asked. "I'm starving."
"I figured you might be." Karzan reached for a burlap bag. "Will fresh bread and potatoes do?"
They gathered around the fire, ate, shared the story of their escape, spiders, and Salvat's witches.
"If it wasn't for Corbin," Odder said, "We wouldn't be here."
"He is a brave giant." Karzan gave him a nod. Corbin whistled back. "The shadow reapers are menacing, but water can slow them down."
“Why is that?” Odder asked.
"It has something to do with the magic properties of water," added Serra.
After Odder had his fill of food, he asked Karzan about the looking glass. "Is all lost or is there another way?"
"This is why we are here," Karzan answered. "Salvat possesses another looking glass."
"He gave me the curse, why would he help me break it?"
"So the demon said, but remember they are deceivers. Besides with the goblin siege threatening all our lands, I don't think any sane wizard will take much convincing."
"Alright," Odder said, reassured. "Do we just knock?"
"Oh no. It's not that easy?" Karzan stood and walked to the gate. The vines quivered, then multiplied, and intertwined together like a tapestry. "The vines instantly grow back when cut. Even an army can’t cut fast enough to penetrate the thorny hedge."
"So how do we meet Salvat?"
"We wait for an invitation."
"For how long?" asked Finkle. "We can't stay out here forever."
"Can we ask the witches?" questioned Aimma?
"He already knows we're here," answered Karzan. "There's nothing we can do but wait."
"In that case, I'll gather some berries and roots for our morning snack. Care to join me, Serra?" Finkle winked.
"Ah not really.” Serra shrugged. “But what else is there to do - fine."
"Woohoo." Finkle hopped around like a dinglegrat.
"Let's go you silly little creature." Serra led the way into the forest.
"I'll get more firewood," Aimma said.
Odder rested on a trunk of an uprooted oak, staring at the witches as the others went about their business. Kellas climbed over the distance, casting long shadows. They look much less frightening in the light, he thought.
"Odder," called one of the witches. "Odder come here."
Odder's eyes became narrow. He focused solely on the witches while the others in his group faded into the background. He stood and walked up to the vines at the gate. They parted, and the gate opened.
"Odder," yelled Karzan, but he didn't turn.
He stepped through the gate which closed behind him. The thorn-ridden hedges intertwined sealing the exit.
A blue light circled Odder, then a flash. Moments later, he stood in a stately chamber with tall walls made of an earthy stone, and floors made with black granite slabs. The shimmering ceiling - distant, maybe several hundred feet up, moved like fluid. Up ahead a figure sat on a throne, dressed in a scarlet cloak, and wearing the skull of a horned beast.
"Are you the wizard Salvat?" Odder asked, his words long and cautious.
"I am. You may come near, but I caution you - do not get too close to the looking glasses."
Odder counted ten mirrors on each side as he approached. He grimaced at the disturbing images of vile creatures within them.
"Demons," Salvat said.
Odder pondered if Salvat planned to unleash the creatures on Arcaina.
"You don't have to be frightened of me or the demons."
"Why?" Odder asked.
"They are imprisoned. Occasionally, a demon possesses an elf as a way to enter our world and feed from our magic. I hunt them."
Uncertainty lingered in Odder, but he decided to pay his respect and see how this meeting with Salvat played out. He took a knee in front of the wizard, bowed his head and carefully searched for an exit.
"How can I help you," Salvat asked.
"Great wizard, I am Odder." He looked up. "Elestus has fallen to the goblins, and they seek to control the portal during the Great Tetrad. I think..." Odder cleared his throat. "I am the one who must stop them."
Salvat rose from his chair and approached. Odder tensed. He stood, taking a step back while gripping his sword.
"I know who you are. I've known for quite a while."
The heaviness of Salvat’s stare made Odder's breathing heavy and shallow.
"How did you learn about the curse?" asked Salvat as he walked over to one of the mirrors. A serpent-like demon with six arms and large hands clawed at the glass from the other side.
"From a fortuneteller and sorceress healer in Elestus. The healer told me to go the Divine Oracle for the cure."
"Did the Oracle say your magic would return if you broke the curse?"
"Yes.” Odder felt compelled to tell the wizard everything. “But not entirely until I made a sacrifice to the Tetrad."
"What sacrifice?"
Odder lowered his head, "Someone close to me, but I won't."
"You must, to save your life, make an offering to the Tetrad in exchange for spiritual power."
"Yes I know, but I won't do it. If I must take a life, then I kill the Queen."
"Perhaps."
"The Divine Oracle said I'll have most of my magic ability. Will it be enough?" Odder asked.
"The Divine Oracle as you call it is the most wicked of all the demons."
"Demon!" Odder's jaw dropped. Why didn't I realize this before?
"Yes, he was the first to enter our realm."
"Why isn't he trapped like these?"
"He's already imprisoned. His magical essence and spirit split, existing in two realms."
"Why would the elves trust his predictions?"
"Arrogance, greed, the House of Elestus has become very powerful due to the Oracle's prophecies. Besides, the demon is a slave to the elves until he can reunite with his spirit." Salvat turned back, facing Odder. "I fear he has manipulated the truth as well as the elves over the millennia to conform to his agenda."
"What agenda?"
Salvat remained silent.
Odder approached. "A demon said you were the one who placed the curse on me."
"Your center marking, the symbol o
f the Champion, is made from demon blood. If you enter the portal, you will create a bridge from this world to their demon spirit realm. Their minions will overtake and destroy everything you care about. I placed a powerful demon curse on you to trap your blood curse and prevent that from happening."
"You put demon blood into me?"
"Not I. The demons have many allies," said Salvat.
"What's worse, having this demon blood or your poisoning curse?"
"An unintended consequence." He pointed at the looking glasses. "Controlling demonic creatures is not without its risks."
"Why not just kill me then."
"I opposed your murder." Salvat paused and stared keenly at Odder. "The blood needs a host. If you die, then the blood will find someone else. We can keep track of you by keeping you alive."
"Opposed my murder, from who? Were there others?"
"They are not important."
"So what is?"
"It seems one cannot control the fates. You are destined to go to the portal, and this is what's important." Salvat raised his hand to the ceiling. The surface rippled like small waves in a pond. Blue energy pulsed from a point near the center, and the ceiling released an object that drifted to the ground.
"Another looking glass?" Odder asked.
"Your looking glass," Salvat said. "The one you'll need to defeat your last demon."
Odder stepped back, still unsure of the wizard’s intentions. "How do I know you won't trap me like these other demons."
A raging fire engulfed the wizard. His crimson cloak thrashed around him like a wild storm. His voice called out like thunder. "If I wanted you trapped or dead, you would not be standing here questioning me."
Odder shielded his face and cowered back.
The flames died, and Salvat's cloak drifted back onto his body. He said, in bold words as heavy as an unmovable stone wall, "The fear which overcame you will be ten times stronger when you face Formeteu, the demon of fear. Prepare yourself." He stepped up to Odder. "Show me the Maha'De."
Odder faltered.
"Your sword," Salvat said, his voice thundering again.
Odder held up the Maha’De but tightly gripped the handle.
Salvat grinned, his teeth perfect and unsoiled. Not what Odder expected from someone wearing a skull on their head.
"Beautiful isn't it?" said Salvat. "Only one Champion in four thousand years is chosen to wield its greatness." He met eyes with Odder. "Formeteu will not only attack your body, but he will rip apart your emotions. Without a doubt, your fear will overtake you, but you have an ally." He gripped the wooden blade. "Your passion ignites its flame. Feel its spirit, and it will give you courage."
Odder- The Blood Curse Page 21
